The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 39

Knox POV

I quickly put Hunter back down to sleep, settling him back down, and then walked casually back to the room. Lorelai is lying down, wearing nothing but a towel and I chuckle, peeling it off her as she blushes. That's better. Now I can look upon her lovely skin and feel its softness, I muse, taking off my robe and climbing into bed. She stiffens but relaxes as I pull the bedcovers over both of us and pull her into me, my arm going over her waist, snuggling against the back of her. She feels so perfect like she's made for me. "Knox" she whispers and then falls silent.

"What is it" I murmur, eyeing her luscious neck and wondering what it would feel like to kiss the soft skin and s**k on it. "Well I mean um" she stammers.

"You want to know where we go from here" I comment quietly.

She falls silent, but her head nods up and down "If this is just a distraction for you then I deserve to know" she blurts out and instantly I'm offended.

I don't make it a habit to just sleep with girls, at least not ones who are in my employ, although after tonight that's going to prove difficult.

"We can discuss that tomorrow," I say evenly "But this was not, as you put it" my voice goes a little harsh "a distraction. I've wanted you from the first moment I saw you Lorelai" I added and she bites her lip, looking surprised.

"But why? I'm not rich, I'm not sophisticated" she whispers, looking helplessly back at me "I'm not special Knox. You could do so much better" she adds looking wretched while I glare at her.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I think you're special" I whisper into her ear as she stiffens "Why are you putting yourself down like that?"

She doesn't answer. I sigh. I've made things complicated between us but I couldn't stop myself anymore. Being in close proximity to her was driving me insane. I had never wanted a woman so badly as I wanted Lorelai. I stroked her side and felt her tremble slightly below my hand.

"I...... can't just leave everything behind" Lorelai muttered.

I raise a brow "I'm not asking you to. But what are you so frightened of?" I sit up and regard her silently "What is it that you're not saying? Would it be so bad to be with me? Are you only being with me because you feel sorry for me?" my voice is growing chilly. She instantly shakes her head "No" she whispers, the blood draining from her face "but my life is more complicated than you know Knox. I can't just abandon everything. There are things that are..." she trails off while I listen, unable to stop the small frown appearing on my face.

What things? It was infuriating that she wouldn't divulge everything to me.

"Lorelai let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's just enjoy each other's company for now" I cut in, watching as she lay back down and nestled her head on her arm.

Was this her way of trying to say she couldn't be with me? Did my wealth or my powerful status put her off? I studied the back of her head, stroking her hair absent-mindedly, feeling slightly grumpy now. Her eyes began to flutter closed and within minutes I could hear the sounds of her soft snores filling the room. She looked so peaceful asleep, her warm body pressed against me. It felt comfortable. I sigh. My hand tightens around her automatically. I feel a wave of protectiveness wash over me.

I fall asleep. For once the sleep is deep and dreamless. I drift off and when I wake up in the morning, I feel the empty side next to me, my hand reaching out blindly to find that Lorelai is gone. I frown as I get up and do my business, quickly jogging to the spare room and checking on Hunter who miraculously is still asleep, probably due to the early hour of the morning.Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jo bn ib.com. Visit J obn I b.com to read the complete chapters for free. Where is Lorelai? I go back to the room but her clothes are gone. I frown. Has she gone back home to change? Was she coming back? I hadn't finished discussing things with her yet.

I paced back and forth, stopping only to fetch Hunter. I changed him, changed his clothes, and then got him a fresh bottle, taking him downstairs into the living room and sitting on the sofa. Ian joins me quietly.

"I saw Lorelai sneaking out this morning," he says as I glance away "she looked devastated. What happened between the two of you last night?" he demanded.

Devastated? Had she regretted what had occurred between the two of us after all? Had she had time to think about it and decided it had been a mistake? That hurt. More than I cared to admit. I flinch and lan notices.

"Nothing you want to hear," I tell him in a low voice as I hold a wriggling Hunter in my arms and watch him drinking.

"So it finally happened" lan's voice is resigned "I knew it was going to eventually. Do you know if she's planning on coming back? She wouldn't even look me in the eyes this morning when I bade her goodbye."

I feel miserable. "I don't know," I said grimly, sitting Hunter up and burping him while lan continued to observe me keenly "I guess I won't get that answer until later today. Although I guess I can hardly blame her if she decides not to, not with my track record" I added bitterly.

I thought Lorelai was different from the other girls. Maybe they were right. Maybe I was the problem. There was something wrong about me that put them off. Maybe she felt like I seduced her or used my position to take advantage of her. She hadn't seemed like it last night but maybe in the cold light of day, her memory had changed. I feel sick. "There's nothing wrong with you" lan's voice is abrupt and hoarse "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. If anything Lorelai has been eyeing you the same way you eye her from a distance. The two of you are practically like lovebirds."

I scoff "Then why would she leave without saying anything?" I say shrewdly, burping Hunter again and then placing him in lan's outstretched arms "She snuck out of here at the crack of dawn. If that isn't a sign of regret I don't know what is."

My voice is bitter and resigned at the same time.

"Maybe she's afraid" lan suggests calmly "she doesn't know the true extent of your feelings and we are one of the most powerful families in the country. Not to mention she got shot while trying to keep us safe. That could mess with anybody's head" he said drily. Hunter sticks out his tongue and blows raspberries making me laugh out loud.

"After last night she can no longer continue to be my maid" I pointed out, thinking about it "I can't see her the same way anymore. But she still needs to make a living. I can't see her wanting to spend every single minute with me. She's too independent for that." lan just shakes his head "Knox, if you're planning on making her yours, she can't work. You know that. She can do what Flair does, have businesses behind the scenes but a retail job or any job in the public eye? Not safe, for her or for you" he pointed out wisely "so think long and hard about this because you'll be supporting her financially."

I didn't care. "She's not the type to take advantage of that," I said sharply as lan bounced Hunter up and down on his lap "she's not like the other maids who threw themselves at me. I was the one who initiated things last night, not her" I emphasized pointedly. lan's face was inscrutable "Have you thought about what father might say about that?"

I opened my mouth but somebody else spoke, their voice filled with amusement "I think that I would find this a suitable match, considering I have already met the girl and found her to be extremely loyal and polite."

s**t. He'd overheard our conversation. It was too late to pretend otherwise.

My father stood in the doorway raising a brow. lan coughed. I stared at my father "You would accept somebody like Lorelai as a daughter-in-law?"

My voice was tinged with hope. My father smiled crookedly, holding out his hands and taking Hunter off of lan. "I like Lorelai. She's sweet, she's hardworking, she's loyal and she's charming. She's perfect wife material, despite her poor background. I'm no snob" he said admonishing lan who looked slightly sheepish "I simply want somebody deserving for Knox who will love him for himself. The other women were not suitable. I believe that Lorelai will prove to be the exception."

I grinned at lan who looked taken aback. My father smirked "The same would go for you lan if you ever found somebody. As long as their heart is in the right place and they are genuine, their background won't matter. I want both of you boys to find somebody who loves you for yourself."

He kisses his grandson on the cheek "Besides I wouldn't say no to more grandsons" he teases as I blush "I'm rather fond of this little rascal and he could use some playmates."

"Keep dreaming father," I said shaking my head.

"Well what are you waiting for?" my father said raising a brow and looking exasperatedly at me "Why are you still here?" I looked at him bewildered. What did he mean by why was I still here? lan looked amused. "Um what?" I asked blankly. "You should be talking to Lorelai," he said shaking his head and eyeing me disappointed "The son I know would have tracked her down on his computer and then gone after her. You've gone soft son," he said admonishing me while I chuckled.

"What about Hunter?" I asked, "I'm supposed to be watching him for Flair."

I couldn't just forget about my responsibility.

"We can watch him, can't we lan" my father smiles.

lan grins "Sure."

I begin to take the steps two at a time. Five minutes max to find her address I think wildly to myself and I'm proven right. It was too easy. I scribble it down and then begin to sprint down the stairs. "Goodluck son" shouts my father.

lan just chuckles.

I slam the door behind me and race to the limo. I shove the piece of paper at the driver "Take me here and hurry" I snarl, climbing into the backseat.